Workpiece holder

Abstract

A workpiece to be cleaned or otherwise operated upon, for example a musical cymbal, is supported by a holder having the form of a belt. The belt's lower edge rests on a work surface. Its upper edge supports the workpiece rim, holding the workpiece off the work surface. In use, the belt is constrained to lie in a closed curve by means which removably fasten its outer end to an intermediate place along its length. The belt's perimeter length is adjustable to accomodate workpieces of widely varying sizes. To prevent unwanted movement of the workpiece with respect to the belt, or of the belt with respect to the work surface, the belt is given friction means, which can be bands or strips of rubber, either running lengthwise along the belt or wrapped around it.

I claim: 
     
       1. A workpiece holder which is supported by a work surface and which in turn supports rigid, round or oval workpieces which have a range of perimeters and which are planar or have a shallow bowl shape, said workpiece holder comprising (a) a flexible strip whose relaxed shape is straight, said strip having a length, thickness and composition chosen to allow it to be bent into a variety of circles or ovals whose perimeters approximate said range of workpiece perimeters,   (b) said thickness and composition further chosen so that said strip will maintain its shape while withstanding compressive forces across its width,   (c) said strip also having an upper edge which in use is proximate to said workpiece and a lower edge which is when in use is proximate to said work surface,   (d) said strip also having a width greater than any nonplanarity of said workpieces so that said workpieces are supported free of contact with said work surface,   (e) said strip being wrapped with an elastic band, said band composition chosen to have high friction when in contact with a material of said workpieces, a material of said work surface, and said composition of said strip,   (f) said band wrapping having the form of a multiple turn helix in which each turn crosses an inner flat surface of said strip, said upper edge of said strip, an outer flat surface of said strip, and said lower edge of said strip, so that in use said band is in contact with both said workpiece and said work surface, and so that said friction between said band and said workpiece will prevent unwanted motion of said workpiece, said strip, and said work surface.   
     
     
       2. The workpiece holder of claim 1 in which (a) said elastic band is wrapped around said strip while under a degree of tension such that in said surface crossings, said band is in contact with said strip surfaces,   (b) said band having a width less than a pitch of said flat helix, thus providing a space between said turns in which at one or both ends of said strip can be inserted to lie between at least one of said turns of said flat helix and said surface of said strip, confining said end to lie in contact with an intermediate place on said strip,   (c) so that by means of friction between said band and said strip, said strip is detachably held in a circle or oval of desired perimeter.   
     
     
       3. The workpiece holder of claim 1 in which said ends of said strip are tapered in width to facilitate tucking them under at least one turn of said elastic band. 
     
     
       4. The workpiece holder of claim 1 in which said ends of said strip are tapered in thickness to facilitate tucking them under at least one turn of said elastic band. 
     
     
       5. A workpiece holder which supports rigid, substantially flat round or oval workpieces such as cymbals, trays, and plates, during cleaning or other operations, said workpiece holder comprising: (a) a flexible support strip, or belt, of uniform width, length of said belt chosen to approximate a perimeter of said workpieces;   (b) said belt having an upper edge which while in use is in contact with said workpiece, said contact extending around substantially all of said perimeter of said workpiece and being inboard of said perimeter so that said workpiece is supported by said belt;   (c) said belt having a lower edge which in use is in contact with a flat working surface;   (d) said belt having a width, between said upper edge and said lower edge, selected to allow any workpiece to be supported free of contact with said flat working surface, said width being otherwise as small as possible so that said support will be firm and free of wobble;   (e) said belt having inner and outer surfaces which are substantially free of contact with the workpiece being supported;   (f) said belt made of material and having thickness chosen to withstand, without substantial deformation, downward compressive forces acting from edge to edge across its width, said forces being generated by pressure exerted during said cleaning or other operations;   (g) friction means comprising an elastic band wound around substantially the full length of said belt in a flat helix, turns of said helix alternately crossing said upper edge and said lower edge of said belt, each end of said band permanently attached to said belt, said crossings providing friction against said workpiece and working surface through surface properties of a material of said elastic band.   
     
     
       6. The elastic band of claim 5 further including a width chosen to be less than the center to center spacing between adjacent turns around said belt, said band held in sufficient tension so that it lies flat against faces of said belt, so that an end of said belt can be removably fastened to another section of said belt one working perimeter of said belt distant from said end, said end passing between said belt and at least one of said turns of said flat helix, said end held immovable through friction with said band and said belt, thereby preventing said belt from varying from its working perimeter.